This is WMMT’s Regional Roundup, a compilation of news from around the region, as reported in area newspapers.

Former Kentucky Attorney General Greg Stumbo has announced he will run for his old seat in the state House of Representatives. Interestingly, the man who is currently occupying the seat, Brandon Spencer, says he is resigning to spend more time with his growing family. This is an abrupt turnaround from Spencer’s announcement just a couple of weeks ago that he planned to run for re-election. Before being elected attorney general, Stumbo held the 95th district seat, which includes primarily Floyd County, for a couple of decades and served as majority floor leader. According to the Big Sandy News, there is speculation in political circles that Spencer will be offered a job in the new state government.

There’ll be no happy holiday for the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority, which is in debt to the tune of more than 160,000 dollars, according to the Coalfield Progress. The money is owed to Wise County for the authority’s payroll and fringe benefits. Wise County is the fiscal agent for the authority, which covers eight counties in southwest Virginia. The county’s financial director Shannon Scott said a look at the operation shows that the liability goes back more than three years, and the county’s tracking system did not catch it. He added – quote – Sufficient controls have been established now to prevent this from occurring in the future – end quote. Last week, authority officials suspended executive director Geneva O’Quinn.

The Harlan County Board of Education has approved a contract for its classified workers, who are represented by the United Mine Workers of America. The contract gives three percent pay increases for bus drivers, cooks and aides and two percent raises for other classified workers. According to the Harlan Daily Enterprise, the contract runs through June 30, 2010.

The first woman to serve as county judge in Martin County – and perhaps in Kentucky -- has died. Victoria Runyon Kirk died recently at the age of 85, according to the Big Sandy News. She was first appointed to fill an unexpired term and then was elected to a four-year term in 1970.

Twenty area physicians have purchased a big piece of Williamson Memorial Hospital from Hospital Management Associates of Naples, Florida, but HMA will retain a majority interest, according to the Williamson Daily News. Hospital chief executive officer Todd Hubler said no changes are in the immediate future. Quote – Once the physicians have collectively met with the company, we will be making decisions on equipment, technology and upgrading the facility – end quote.

Rita Surratt is the new full-time tourism director for Dickenson County, Virginia. She formerly served in the position part-time, according to the Coalfield Progress.

Three of the original defendants in the lawsuit tied to Operation Big Coon Dog in Buchanan County, Virginia, have reached a monetary settlement with the county, according to the Virginia Mountaineer. Donald Ray Matney, B and K Contractors and D and R Contractors agreed to pay 400,000 dollars in restitution for what the county lost for repairs after the 2002 Hurley flood. 14 defendants were charged following a federal investigation looking into bribery and misuse of cleanup funds.

Oh, Christmas tree. Wait, make that Ouch, Christmas tree. The Big Sandy News reports that a Johnson County, Kentucky, woman allegedly assaulted her boyfriend with a four-and-a-half-foot tall Christmas tree. A sheriff’s deputy who responded to a call of a stabbing in the community of East Point found evidence that the pair had been drinking and fighting. Both were taken to Paul B. Hall Medical Center for treatment of various scratches and then to the Big Sandy Regional jail.